Porterfield Funeral Home Records 1909-1933

Access and use

Location of collection:
Wytheville Community College
F.B. Kegley Library
Wytheville Community College
Smyth Hall, Room 103
1000 East Main Street
Wytheville, VA 24382
Contact for questions and access:
POC: William A. “Bill” Veselik
Phone: (276) 223-4876
POC: George Mattis
Phone: (276) 223-4744
Fax: (276) 223-4745

Summary

Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

The Records are photocopies of the originals which are owned by the Grubb Funeral Home. The records are arranged into seven volumes; each volume has an alphabetical index. A master index to all seven volumes is also included.

The funeral or death records in these volumes offer a wealth of information to researchers. The records are arranged chronologically by date of death; each volume has a name index which gives a page reference to the record. Records give information on the deceased's name, birthdate, parents, parent's birthplace, age of deceased at death, name of spouse, place of death, cause of death, physician attending, place of burial, occupation, and race. Not every funeral record contains all of the above information.

The records also provide information on funeral costs such as casket, embalming, and transportation. Interspersed in the records are cases in which the remains of the deceased were transported by train from the place of death to Wytheville for burial.

Biographical / historical:

John L. Porterfield opened Porterfield Funeral Home in Wytheville in 1909. In 1929 John Minnick purchased the business and operated it for the next several decades. In 1973 William Grubb purchased Porterfield-Minnick Funeral Home and has operated it as the Grubb Funeral Home to the present day.

Acquisition information:
Donated by Mary B. Kegley in 1993.
Physical description:
7 volumes.